Golf R Observations and Questions

[Corey_R]

A real computer!?


(Or at least a spreadsheet program that supports Microsoft Excel documents...)

[HPSOV]

The R exhaust isn't as good as the R32 (but we all knew that).
I just clocked up 3000km on my R and the exhaust note has changed considerably.
Several friends who drove with me when the car was new have commented on how it sounds now and asked if I have had it modified.
It has become much louder, I notice it myself all the time now.
I have no idea what the technical reason for this might be (anyone?) but for the time I'm loving it! Actually I hope it doesn't keep getting louder...

[G-rig]

I have driven the R and seen and heard a few on the street. To me the exhaust not just doesn't sound that great.

I have a MKV GTI and I think it has a little more of a growl and fart with changes which I love.

What do you guys think? I know everyone will say it doesn't compare to the R32 note, but how about compared to the GTI? Or what you think of its sound.

That is stating the obvious, there is no way it would be as good as the R32 note. Apparently it drones and sounds tinny from the noise pipe. They should have just made it like the S3 as it will never be like the R32.

I do find the GTI fart/rev matching sound pretty good too.

[Corey_R]

An exhaust can drone AND sound tinny at the same time?

[HPSOV]

A few more idle observations after 3 months ownership....

The rain sensing wipers are useless at night. I guess they just don't see the rain? I give them 7/10 during the day and 3/10 at night.

ACC is actually awesome, now I am so familiar with the car (and pushing limits more) the difference between modes is very noticeable. It was one of my 2 must have options (along with leather) and I reckon I could live without leather...

I can't work out the aircon... Even with auto mode off it changes fan speed by itself. There doesn't seem to be a mode where I can leave the fan at speed 3 without it changing. The auto modes are actually quite good, just sometimes it drops to speed 1 and I prefer more airflow even if the temp is right.

VW service were very good giving me a free wheel alignment last week because the steering wheel was a little off centre (although it was a defect from the factory so should have been fixed free if charge).

The aftermarket DSG paddles are a must, it's really made manual mode so much more useable. The majority of my driving is in manual now.

Haven't used a drop of oil yet.

The brakes are awesome.

I wish the instrument backlights would just stay on. Sometimes I can't read the speedo and tacho (is there a vagcom setting for this?).

That's all for now.

[ratedr]

Rain sensing wipers are critical for me, especially highway driving, having to continually manually change wipers would drive me insane.. I am surprised they don't work so well on the Golf.. On my last car, Pug 308 XTE HDi, they were fantastic.. the rain density would change and instantaneously, the wipers would alter speed accordingly. Has a big sensor, I guess that's what it comes down to?

ACC should have been stock..

What is your overall rating out of 10?

& What is average L/100km? Overall estimate?

& Have you also noticed exhaust growl getting deeper as it is worked in?

[G-rig]

An exhaust can drone AND sound tinny at the same time?

Not at the same time but at different times... YMMV. Not really a deal breaker either way but we are a picky bunch.

Rain sensing wipers are critical for me, especially highway driving, having to continually manually change wipers would drive me insane.. I am surprised they don't work so well on the Golf..

The wipers seem a bit more sensative on the MK6, other things seem to set them off when it clearly isn't raining.

[dave_r]

p.p.s. I hate you because you already are filling up your Golf R and mine is still in the factory hehe

I hate you all cos mine still hasn't hit the line!

FWIW, the fuel thing confused the missus as well on the Polo. The range is accurate for the "main" tank capacity excluding the reserve portion. I'd say it's the same across the range. In my case, its a good thing because I had a nasty habit of running to zero and beyond on my company cars. Guess it's like that Seinfeld epside with Kramer and the test drive hehe.

Apparently it drones and sounds tinny from the noise pipe.

It's hard to keep track of which car you like at any given time. But how does it apparently drone or sound tinny? Hasn't been my experience nor has anyone else commented on that as a matter of fact?

The rain sensing wipers are useless at night. I guess they just don't see the rain? I give them 7/10 during the day and 3/10 at night.

On the parents Mk5 Golf and the missus Polo I noticed they sometimes take a while to do anything, particually if there is a light spray. Then other times they'll wipe for a single drop of water. Interesting you note a difference day/night, I can't say I have. Will pay more attention next time for ****s and giggles.

[Pepe]

A few more idle observations after 3 months ownership....

The rain sensing wipers are useless at night. I guess they just don't see the rain? I give them 7/10 during the day and 3/10 at night.

ACC is actually awesome, now I am so familiar with the car (and pushing limits more) the difference between modes is very noticeable. It was one of my 2 must have options (along with leather) and I reckon I could live without leather...

I can't work out the aircon... Even with auto mode off it changes fan speed by itself. There doesn't seem to be a mode where I can leave the fan at speed 3 without it changing. The auto modes are actually quite good, just sometimes it drops to speed 1 and I prefer more airflow even if the temp is right.

VW service were very good giving me a free wheel alignment last week because the steering wheel was a little off centre (although it was a defect from the factory so should have been fixed free if charge).

The aftermarket DSG paddles are a must, it's really made manual mode so much more useable. The majority of my driving is in manual now.

Haven't used a drop of oil yet.

The brakes are awesome.

I wish the instrument backlights would just stay on. Sometimes I can't read the speedo and tacho (is there a vagcom setting for this?).

That's all for now.

+1 on most of what you've said here...

And on the exhaust note... I'm at about 3300km and I swear it is getting distinctively more growley in the last week or so... awesome

[G-rig]

It's hard to keep track of which car you like at any given time. But how does it apparently drone or sound tinny? Hasn't been my experience nor has anyone else commented on that as a matter of fact?

I like all of them but none are 100% perfect. Several reviews have mentioned it as well as a few people that have test drove them here. Maybe not tinny as such but perhaps artificial with the noise pipe compared to the V6 sound. Wouldn't have been bad if it sounded like the S3 but either way isn't too bad.

[REXman]

Yeah I think the R32's sound amazing. I found a youtube video of some aussie vw club showing off their different R32 exhaust systems.. awesome awesome stuff.
Here it is:

(R32)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Vj7BUAGms

The R though, definitely sounds better than the GTI. I tested the R back to back with a GTI and the first thing my girlfriend said to me is how much beefier this one (the R) sounded.

Lastly, New exhausts usually get louder as the new tinny and clean exhaust gets that nice black muck all through it. That changes the sound.

[SilvrFoxX]

Is that like a smokers lungs..?

[HPSOV]

What is your overall rating out of 10?

& What is average L/100km? Overall estimate?

& Have you also noticed exhaust growl getting deeper as it is worked in?

Overall the car would have to get an 8 or 9 out of 10 (that's coming from wrx's, I guess someone coming from an M3 might have a different opinion).

Fuel consumption is at 9.5l/100 overall for 3000km (my my08 wrx did 10.0 for it's first 10000km). My 20km drive to work is 19km of 80 zone with a couple of sets of lights at the end. I can get there at 7.7. At 110-120 it isn't so great as the revs sit so much higher (really needs another gear). When you go nuts it gets very thirsty though (much more than the 2.5l wrx).

Exhaust is definitely getting deeper and louder.

[G-rig]

Lastly, New exhausts usually get louder as the new tinny and clean exhaust gets that nice black muck all through it. That changes the sound.

Must have been that then.. (as well as some overseas reviews may have had a res delete but hard to say).

The main thing is the power, but the GTI could use a bit more exhaust note. An aftermarket one will fix that.

[Corey_R]

I like all of them but none are 100% perfect. Several reviews have mentioned it as well as a few people that have test drove them here. Maybe not tinny as such but perhaps artificial with the noise pipe compared to the V6 sound. Wouldn't have been bad if it sounded like the S3 but either way isn't too bad.

Does the R in Australia actually have the noise pipe?
The GTI had it overseas and several local reviewers mentioned it here, yet it was never installed on any Australian delivered GTI. I'm wondering about the R. Has anyone confirmed it's actually there?